Pre-curled wig and method

ABSTRACT

A curling tool is disclosed as including a curling mechanism and apparatus. The apparatus includes a hinged member and an anchor member, hingedly attached to each other so that the hinged member overlies the anchor member when a wig hair and wefting is inserted to the apparatus. The hinged member clamps the hair and wefting in a horizontal plane with the hinged member overlying the anchor member. Means are also included to prevent lateral movement of the hair and wefting. Clamping means extend from the anchor member through a slot in a hinged member to hold the apparatus in the overlying relationship. A reverse curl is thereby emparted to the wig hair to prevent curl separation and to avoid the necessity for teasing after setting the wig.

United States Patent 91 Ostenssen [111 3,756,254 [4 1 Sept. 4, 1973 PRE-CURLED WIG AND METHOD [75] Inventor: Sture Ostenssen, North Miami, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Fashion Tress, Inc., Hialeah, Fla.

[22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 174,703

[52] US. Cl. 132/5 3,447,541 6/1969 Golden 132/5 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 152/5 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Att0rney-Morton Amster et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A curling tool is disclosed as including a curling mechanism and apparatus. The apparatus includes a hinged member and an anchor member, hingedly attached to each other so that the hinged member overlies the anchor member when a wig hair and wefting is inserted to the apparatus. The hinged member clamps the hair and wefting in a horizontal plane with the hinged member overlying the anchor member. Means are also included to prevent lateral movement of the hair and wefting. Clamping means extend from the anchor member through a slot in a hinged member to hold the apparatus in the overlying relationship. A reverse curl is thereby emparted to the wig hair to prevent curl separation and to avoid the necessity for teasing after setting the wig.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures mimosa 4 ms Still 10f 2 x a GINVENTOR.

STURE OSTE/VSSEN A -M151 f ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 4:915

SHEEI 2 0f 2 INVENTOR. URE OJTE/VSSE/V M9 RIOR AR ATTORNEYS PRE-CURLED WIG AND METHOD This invention relates primarily to wig manufacturing apparatus amd more particularly to such apparatus for setting wig hair without the necessity for extensive teas ing thereof.

It should be understood at the outset that the phras wig caplrefers to the member to which all wig hair and wefting is attached when the wig is worn and the phrase wig wefting" refers to the member to which hair is attached during curling.

Present wig manufacturing apparatus may be described in basically two general classifications: aftercurled and pre-curled. The after-curled classification denotes curling the wig hair after the hair and wefting has been sewn to the wig cap. The after-curled process is similar to that used when setting a womans real hair. Such setting is accomplished in the usual way by the use of hair curlers in the form of cylindrical members around which the hair is wrapped. It has been found by the use of such after-curled method and the apparatus for performing such method that extensive teasing is necessary after setting in order to blend the hair from each curler with other hair from other curlers, thus to prevent exposure of the wig cap. Even after extensive teasing, the hair blending occurs at a position some distance above the wig cap and not in the proximity of the cap.

With a womans real hair, the heat from a human scalp very rapidly softens the hair near the scalp in order to prevent the separation as discussed above. On the other hand, in the case of a wig, the wig cap prevents the flow of such heat to accomplish the same function with the hair next to the cap.

In the classification designated above as precurled, curling is accomplished prior to attachment of the wig hair and wefting to the wig cap thus avoiding the difficulties of after-curled wigs relative to separation of hair near the cap. Furthermore, precurling has proven advantageous in producing a uniformity of direction for the wig hair by pre-curling prior to sewing thehair and'wefting onto the wig cap. However, a further problem arises with prej-curled wigs. It has been found that such pre-curled wigs lack the height of hair accomplished by other methods. Thus, extensive teasing is also necessary with this pre-curling method in order to accomplish such height.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel hair curling apparatus and method toovercome the difficulties experienced with prior art methods and apparatus.

A further and more particular object is to provide a precurling apparatus and method to avoid the necessity for extensive teasing of the wig hair after curling.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction of wig curling apparatus and a method of curling for accomplishment by said apparatus which features a wig curling mechanism including a first hinged member, a second anchor member, the members being hingedly connected with upstanding anchor pins extending from the anchor member. The hinged member includes a base wall with a channel attached thereto, the channel having a front wall portion extending upwardly therefrom for supporting hinges useful in attaching the members of the mechanism. A generally U-shaped backwall portion extends upwardly from the channel and includes a generally horizontally top wall parallel to the base wall. The channel top wall defines generally horizontally disposed anchor holes for receipt of the aforementioned anchor pins. Thus,

the hinged member is foldable onto the anchor member with anchor pins extending through the wig wefting and wig hair and into the anchor holes. Clamping means are provided for holding the members in this folded position.

A method for hair curling is accomplished with the above apparatus by first attaching wig hair to a wig wefting. The wefting with hair attached is then mounted upon the anchor pins of the hair curling appa ratus and fixed in that position by folding the hinged member of the hair curling apparatus so that an overlying position with respect to the anchor member of the apparatus is achieved. Thus, the anchor holes defined by the hinged member receive the anchor pins of the anchor member. Clamping means are then locked to hold this folded relationship of the hinged and anchor members. Hair rollers are then aligned parallel to the apparatus and the wig hair rolled thereon, thus to accomplish curling of the wig hair, with a reverse curl or straight portion resulting in the wig hair near the weftmg.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus useful in the present invention, showing also a wig wefting with hair attached useful with the apparatus in accomplishment of the method according to the present invention;

FIG. Z-is an end view of the hair curling apparatus of FIG. 1, but in folded position;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the wig wefting and hair holding position of the apparatus, with wig hair and wefting held thereby, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial, elevational, sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along the line 4-4 of that figure, showing particularly the clamping means thereof;

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and showing particularly the wig wefting and hair holding part of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus according tothe present invention similar to FIG. 2 but with the hair shown wrapped around a curler during a step of a method according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a representation of a pre-curled wig accord ing to the prior art, in its condition after curling but prior to teasing; and

FIG. 8 is a representation of wig hair after curling according to an apparatus and method of the present invention in its condition after curling and without teasing for comparison with FIG. 7 of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a hair curling mechanism generally designated 10 is shown as including a first hinged member l2 and a second anchor member 14. The hinged member 12 includes a base wall 16, a channel 17 attached to the base wall and having a C-shaped :front wall portion 18 and a U-shapecl back wall portion 20. The front wall portion 18 is formed with a front wall base 18a, a front wall main body 18b, and a front wall top surface 186. The front wall portion is attached, by soldering or the like, to base wall 16 and the top surface 18c functions as a stop when the hinged member is folded onto the anchor member as will hereinafter be described. The front wall main body 18b provides an attachment surface for hinges 22, 24, which connect the two members for folding orientation.

The U-shaped back wall portion 20 of the hinged member is shown in FIG. 1 as including a channel base 20a and a U-shaped main body including channel front wall 20b and channel back wall 200, which is afixed to base wall 16 at flange 16a by soldering or the like. Channel top wall 20d defines anchor holes 20e whose function will be described further in this specification.

Also, it should be mentioned with reference to FIG. 1 that channel base 200 and member 180 are coincident, the common surface being bifurcated by slot 26 going through both the common member and the hinged member base wall 16.

l-Iingedly attached to the hinged member 12 is anchor member 14 including a C-shaped back wall 28 and an upstanding front wall 30. Back wall 28 and front wall 30 are connected by anchor member base 32 extending therebetween in a generally horizontal plane. Back wall 28 includes stop wall 28a and front wall 30 defines at its upper portion a generally horizontally extending shelf wall 34, upstanding from which are anchor pins 36. Weldably connected to the upstanding front wall 30 is L-shaped. guide wall 38 which guides the channel front wall 20b when hinged member 12 is foldably overlying the anchor member 14. Base flanges 40, 42 act as supports for the anchor member 14 during use of the mechanism and apparatus as described herein.

Bolts 44, 46, are rotatably connected to metal staples 48, 50 for use with washer 52 and wing bolt 54 in holding a folded position of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 2. The staples are attached through anchor member base 32 and the base flanges as shown in FIG. 2.

Also in FIG. I is shown wig hair wefting 56 to which hair 58 is attached. For curling according to the present invention, wefting 56 is sewn or otherwise attached to curling paper 60 or the like during insertion to the mechanism 10. Such paper 60 is removed after curling.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-5, it may be seen clearly that wefting 56 with hair 58 attached and curling paper 60 are insertable to mechanism after which the hinged member is folded to a position overlying the anchor member such that channel front wall b abuts L-shaped wall 38 with the wig therebetween. Wefting 56, wig hair 58 and curling paper 60 lie between channel top wall 20d and shelf wall 34, the anchor pins 36 extending through the curling paper and hair and then through holes 20s, with wefting 56 lying inwardly of pins 36 to prevent horizontal motion. It may be seen, particularly in FIG. 2 that in the folded position, stop surface 28a abuts top surface 180. After the folded position is achieved, the bolts 46, 44 are rotated relative to staples 48, 50 and inserted to their respective slots with slot 26 being shown on the near edge of the mechanism. The wing bolt 54 and washer 52 are then tightened to hold the folded position. It may also be seen in FIG. 2 that the base flange 42 acts to stabilize the mechanism during use.

FIG. 6 depicts the hair curling step of the present invention wherein a roller 66 is used to form a curl by wrapping hair 58 thereabout along with curling paper 60. Such curling is accomplished while the wefting and hair are held between back wall 20 and shelf wall 34 of mechanism 10. The bend produced in the hair at point 68 (FIG. 6) provides a desired result when apparatus and a method according to the present invention are used, as will be seen clearly by particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the prior art pre-curling apparatus and methods, teasing was necessary because of the flat orientation of hair 58' produced thereby. It may be seen clearly in FIG. 7 that the hair from each wefting 56' lies rather flatly over hair from the next succeeding wefting 56'. Such flat orientation continues to exist after the weftings 56 are sewn onto a wig cap Only extensive teasing gives height to hair 58'.

On the other hand, reference to FIG. 8 shows the curl produced by a method and apparatus according to the present invention after removal of rollers 66 and paper 60. Unlike the prior art shown in FIG. 7 after curling, curling according to the present invention method and with apparatus as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 6 hereof, hair 58 is still high, after sewing of wefting 56 to a wig cap 70.. Thus, teasing is unnecessary and a quick combthrough or brush-through will provide the wig in a condition for acceptable wear.

The difference in height of hair from a wig made according to the present invention apparatus and method is due to the downward hair direction imparted to the hair near the wefting since the prior art provides no means for holding the wefting straight during the curling operation. In other words, the wefting assumes a curved line continuing the curved line of the hair. On the other hand, the apparatus and method of the present invention breaks the curved line at point 68 (FIGS. 6 and 8), thus providing a higher hair line curve.

In order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention a general description of the method according to the present invention will now be related with reference to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus useful in accomplishment of the method. Hair 58 is first attached to wefting 56 and the wefting is attached by sewing or the like to curling paper 60. The wefting is then inserted to mechanism 10 such that anchor pins 36 protrude therethrough. The hinged member 12 is then folded over onto anchor member 14 such that anchor pins 36 protrude through holes 20e defined by the U-shaped back wall portion 20. Bolts 44, 46 are then rotated to an upright position into slots 26 and the wing bolts 54 tightened to hold the folded position between members 12, 14.

While the hair and wefting are in this locked position, rollers 66 are wrapped with hair 58 and curling paper 60 for a length of time and with curling preparations well known in the art. Successive weftings of hair are successively inserted to the mechanism 10 and the weftings are then sewn to a wig cap 70 or the like after removal of curling paper 60. Wig hair 58 is then briefly brushed or combed and the wig with wig cap 70 and' hair 58 is then ready for immediate wear.

What is claimed is: l. A method for curling wig hair attached to a wefting and to curling paper comprising the steps of:

a. placing said wefting upon a longitudinally extending base, with the wig hair extending transversely from said base;

b. wrapping said wig hair and said curling paper about a curling roller, maintaining uncurled at least said wig hair attached to said wefting;

c. setting said wig hair; and,

d. removing said curling paper;

2. The method according to claim 1, including the additional steps of removably clamping said wig hair to a longitudinally extending plan base prior to wrapping said wig hair about said curling roller, and unclamping said wig hair after said setting step.

3. A method for making a precurled wig comprising the steps of providing wig hair attached to a wefting, placing said wefting on a base with said wig hair extending therefrom, removably fixing said wefting to said with respect thereto.

1: s v s 

1. A method for curling wig hair attached to a wefting and to curling paper comprising the steps of: a. placing said wefting upon a longitudinally extending base, with the wig hair extending transversely from said base; b. wrapping said wig hair and said curling paper about a curling roller, maintaining uncurled at least said wig hair attached to said wefting; c. setting said wig hair; and, d. removing said curling paper.
 2. The method according to claim 1, including the additional steps of removably clamping said wig hair to a longitudinally extending plan base prior to wrapping said wig hair about said curling roller, and unclamping said wig hair after said setting step.
 3. A method for making a precurled wig comprising the steps of providing wig hair attached to a wefting, placing said wefting on a base with said wig hair extending therefrom, removably fixing said wefting to said base, curling said extending wig hair with respect to said wefting while maintaining said wefting uncurled, setting said wig hair, unfixing said wefting from said base, and attaching said wefting to a wig cap in proximity to similarly curled wig hair thereby permitting blending of said wig hairs in close proximity to said wig cap.
 4. The method according to claim 3 including removably clamping said wefting to a plane base during said curling step and attaching said wefting to said wig cap in a manner that said wig hair assumes a reverse curl with respect thereto. 